Two Year Anniversary

Two years ago today, my little brother walked me down the aisle, and gave me to this wonderful man. We promised God to love and cherish each other forever. We celebrated amongst family and friends. It was the most wonderful day of my life.

It seems like its been much longer. We sure did cram a lot into two years!

I love this man. I am so fortunate to be married to him. He is a wonderful hubby, and extraordinary father.

Here's to many more!

Weekly goals

Hubby is out of state for work this week. This is our first time truly spending time apart. This is also the first time hubby has been away from the boys. I have an awesome husband, and the kids have a wonderful father. He not only goes to work every day so I can stay home with the littles, but once he comes home he jumps right in to daddy/hubby mode. I am so fortunate to have a hubby that helps cook, changes diapers, helps with baths, maintains the yard, well- the list goes on. I have a feeling I will appreciate his presence so much more after this week!

What are my plans? Get stuff done!

Last week I didn't do that good with my goals, so I am starting from that list- and adding on. I have so many projects around here that are unfinished- and I just need to get em done.
This weeks goals (actually last weeks list, re-posted):

1. Work for 15 minutes a day in the computer room. Didn't do once last week.
2. Refine my own chore chart. Started working on morning and night routines, then the season changed.
3. Find 7-10 meals for 30 meal list. Did not do
4. Make journals for the men in my life (hubby and twins). Again, did not do.
5. Read to the boys everyday, take boys' reading chart to the library. Was much better at this. Still need to take chart to the library.
6. Continue to get up between 6:30 and 6:45. Yes! (although I really did not have much of a choice some days.)
7. Sew 2 headbands, 2 bibs, and 2 burp cloths. *Find dress to make. No sewing done.
8. Crochet 2 dishcloths. Done!
9. Work on etsy shop. Did minimally, so like all other goals staying on list.
10. Get resume together. Nada.

Whew. Lots to do. On top of that hefty list, I hope to finish the boatload of unfinished projects I have around here. This seems to be an ongoing theme in my life. Oh, well.

Off to the printer, maybe having my list posted will help. Keep you updated.

Routine with Twins?

Nap time!

I have been focusing on getting up earlier these last few weeks. Its been going great.

There are a few reasons I have been focusing on getting up earlier. One reason is so I can see hubby for a few minutes before he leaves for work. I make him an iced coffee, and get a big water jug ready for him while he throws his lunch together.

After hubby leaves I usually have an hour to hour and a half before the boys get up. I have been trying to use this time to get some housework done, clothes on the line, shower, and dressed for the day.

This past week, all week- the boys have been waking up between 6:30 and 6:45, even earlier a couple days. Now, this doesn't bother me one bit. It is actually nice because hubby gets a chance to see them before he leaves for work. The only problem is that my routine needs to change, again.

For me this is the toughest part of motherhood. I like to have a routine. For the last year, I feel I have established a routine, then the boys let me know its not right for this time in our life. Sometimes I feel like a hamster, spinning on my wheel and getting nowhere.

Don't get me wrong- we have been very fortunate so far. The boys have slept through the night most of their life. They go to bed fairly easy and early most of the time. They are calm, happy, healthy little boys. We have been lucky!

I just need to accept that things are ALWAYS going to be changing, and learn how to ride the wave. Does anyone else have a hard time dealing with a lack of a routine?

Weekly Goals and What We're Eating This Week

I like lists. I like the visual a list gives (things look achievable when written on a list). I also like crossing things off the list. But... no matter how long or short my lists are, I have a problem finishing them (and throwing it away). This is a habit I am committing myself to- Finishing.

This weeks goals:

1. Work for 15 minutes a day in the computer room.
2. Refine my own chore chart.
3. Find 7-10 meals for 30 meal list.
4. Make journals for the men in my life (hubby and twins).
5. Read to the boys everyday, take boys' reading chart to the library.
6. Continue to get up between 6:30 and 6:45.
7. Sew 2 headbands, 2 bibs, and 2 burp cloths. *Find dress to make.
8. Crochet 2 dishcloths.
9. Work on etsy shop.
10. Get resume together.

This weeks menu:
Sunday- pork steak
Monday- venison
Tuesday- leftovers
Wednesday- homemade mac and cheese
Thursday- chicken of some sort
Friday- ???
Saturday- Going out to eat

Does anyone else have a hard time focusing? Any tips on getting back on track?

Monthly Goals

Yes, I know, its almost the middle of the month. These goals are geared for my 30 by 30 list. Which starts the 11th of the month.

Anyways, here's what I plan on working on this month:

1. Work on purging computer room.
2. Focus on daily cleaning habits.
3. Make a 30 meal list.
4. Start journals.
5. Read to boys everyday.
6. Continue to get up early.
7. Sew, and crochet.
8. Start Etsy shop.
9. Make two Christmas presents.
10. Look for dress to make, start making.

It doesn't look so difficult when its broken down into smaller chunks. Lets see how I do this month.

30 by 30, How am I doing?

Two months down, ten until I turn 30. I made a list of 30 things I would like to accomplish by my thirtieth birthday. I have been feeling directionless lately, so I want to review my list so I can make a few goals for myself this month. Lets see how I've been doing. (Don't get too excited, I haven't been doing much.)

1. Purge home, clear clutter- we did have two garage sales this summer, but this home has a long way to go.
2. Make cleaning a habit- I'm getting a little better at this. I did make a chore chart for the older kids, and their help helps me immensely.
3. Make recycling a habit- we were notified that we are getting curbside recycling in August, so this one is going great!
4. Scan pictures, organize pictures- have not done a thing.
5. Organize recipes- in May or June I did start writing some of my loose recipes on index cards, but I still have a ways to go. I want to add to this goal become effective at meal planning.
6. Paint bedroom, decorate- nope, nothing done.
7. Paint living room, decorate- nope, nothing done
8. Learn how to effectively manage household and time- this is a constant wip (work in progress for you non-knitters). I don't feel that I am making much headway, but I am learning.
9. Make wedding album- nope, nothing done
10. Journal for the boys- nope, nothing done
11. Journal for my husband- nope, nothing done
12. Learn how to use my camera, take more pictures- I haven't learned how to use the camera any differently than I have been. I have been trying to take more pictures, but I lack consistency.
13. Have monthly date nights with my husband- I don't think we have done this yet, we do have a sitter for the night this month.
14. Go on mini-vacation with hubby- we have talked a little, but not made any plans yet.
15. Go on vacation with the family- have not made plans yet.
16. Read to the boys everyday- I have started reading to them a lot more, but not quite everyday.
17. Learn to/teach the kids to pray (and Lord's prayer and Ten Commandments)- nope, not yet.
18. Teach my step-daughter to sew and/or encourage her creative interests- she just finished softball, so this goal has been untouched.
19. Implement a budget- nope, not yet.
20. Start nursing clinicals- did not get in for the fall semester, hopefully this winter.
21. Manage time better- (this is on 8, oh well), I am a tortoise right now.
22. Get up early (like to start day by 6:00)- I am getting better at this, usually about 6:30.
23. Dress for my hubby more often (less jeans and t-shirts)- This is going great. I have been wearing so many more dresses and skirts. It could be because it is summer, hopefully I can keep up.
24. Style hair more, less ponytails- Sometimes I am good at this, sometimes not. I have too much hair and am debating a big cut.
25. Blog regularly- well..haven't really been consistent at this one.
26. Exercise regularly- nope.
27. Craft through craft books, get rid of craft books not needed- I started, stupid me I started with Generation T. I knew I wasn't getting rid of these books, so I should have left them on the shelf.
28. Craft through stash- see 27. (T-shirts are not stash)
29. Make a dress, and wear it- nope.
30. Start selling on etsy- I have thought about it, but not taken a step.
31. Do a 365 project- nope.
32. Have a (semi) handmade Christmas- pinned some ideas, but nothing completed.

Wow! I have a lot of work.

Two Ingredient Cake Tips

As you may have read (or not) my boys' birthday was this weekend. One of them is severely allergic to eggs. So I went in search for the perfect birthday cake for them to smash. I found the two-ingredient cake.

It tastes fantastic! I had plans to make two huge cupcakes, one for each boy, and regular-sized cupcakes for the party-attendants. First I made a big cupcake using my mold. When I tried to pop it out, the cake fell apart and turned into a mess! Oh well, onto take two. I made a 13 x 9 cake. I let it cool all night (mainly because we were up until 12:30 making cakes). The morning of the party I popped the cake into the freezer for a half an hour or so. Then tried to pop it out of the cake pan and... same results.

My husband walked in at this time, while I was spitting and sputtering to myself (or maybe anybody who could hear). He offered make a power run to buy a cake. But remember? Egg allergy.

I had to walk away for a moment. When I came to and decided to frost the cupcakes, I absently started to arrange them on the (handmade) cake boards. I can do this.

I arranged 7 cupcakes to resemble a 1. Then I took broken cake chunks and stuffed in all the holes. Next I generously frosted. The outcome....

Not too bad. Although the boys did not dig in the way I had anticipated...

They honestly only got this dirty because they got help, clearly the enthusiasm is lacking...



My tips? Two-ingredient cake is moist, really moist. It will not hold well for a decorated cake, or a mold (unless I was doing something drastically wrong). My second piece of wisdom- this cake makes a wonderful truffle (I think that's what my concoction may be called. I layered the broken cake (smashed it up a little more), vanilla pudding, and peanut butter buttercream frosting left over from the cupcakes in a bowl. It went fast! This stuff is amazing!

Have you tried two-ingredient cake yet?